Architectural Wire Mesh & Metal Facades
Woven wire mesh, perforated metal, and expanded metal for facades, sunscreens, column covers, railing infill, and ceilings. Everything cut to size and custom-fabricated for your drawings — shipped nationwide from Hayward, California.
Architects and fabricators reach for metal mesh when they want a surface that filters light, reads as texture from a distance, and holds up outdoors for decades. Howard Wire has supplied woven, perforated, and expanded products since 1938. We don't sell finished panel systems — we supply the mesh and metal, cut and fabricated to your dimensions, so your shop or installer can build to spec. Pricing is quote-only because nearly every architectural job is custom.
Three Material Families
Most architectural work starts with one of three products. Each gives a different look and a different degree of transparency.
| Product | Look | Typical Uses | Open Feel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woven Wire Mesh | Fine to bold weave; crisp, uniform lines | Facades, sunscreens, balustrade infill, ceilings, partitions | Sheer to semi-open |
| Perforated Metal | Clean holes or decorative patterns in solid sheet | Column covers, signage, sunshades, soffits, screens | Solid with holes |
| Expanded Metal | Diamond pattern raised from a single sheet | Facades, guarding, walkways, rugged screens | Directional, semi-open |
Open area, wire/hole size, and sheet gauge all shift the visual weight. Send your target and we'll match products to it.
Materials & Finishes
The metal you choose drives both the look and the outdoor lifespan. Common architectural picks from what we stock:
Stainless Steel
304/304L and 316/316L. The workhorse for exteriors — bright, durable, and corrosion-resistant. 316 is the choice for coastal and marine air. See 316 stainless woven mesh.
Aluminum
Lightweight and easy to handle for large sunscreen and ceiling spans. A frequent pick where panel weight matters.
Brass, Copper & Bronze
Warm tones for feature walls and interiors. Copper and bronze weather naturally over time toward a living patina.
We supply mill/mechanical finishes on the metal itself; we do not apply architectural coatings or paint in-house. Tell us the material and we'll confirm what's stocked.
Perforated Hole Patterns
Perforated metal is punched from solid sheet in a range of hole shapes and layouts. The hole shape, size, and spacing set the open area and the way the sheet reads up close and from a distance:
| Hole Shape | Character |
|---|---|
| Round | The most common perforation; clean, versatile, high open area |
| Square | Crisp grid read, contemporary look |
| Slotted | Linear, directional texture |
Hole shape, size, and spacing all shift the open area and visual weight. Decorative and custom layouts vary by material and gauge — send your drawing and we'll confirm what we can supply.
Common Applications
Building Facades
Ventilated rainscreen skins and feature elevations in woven, perforated, or expanded metal.
Sunscreens & Shading
Solar-shading screens that cut glare and heat while keeping sightlines open.
Column Covers
Wrap structural columns in perforated or woven mesh for a clean, finished column.
Railing & Balustrade Infill
Mesh infill panels for stairs, balconies, and mezzanines — commonly used as guard infill.
Ceilings & Soffits
Suspended mesh or perforated ceiling fields that hide services and manage acoustics visually.
Signage & Feature Walls
Backlit letters, screens, and interior features in brass, copper, or stainless.
Have a drawing or a target look?
Send dimensions, material, and pattern — we'll quote it cut to size.
Explore the Products
Woven Wire Mesh
Sheer to bold weaves in stainless, aluminum, brass, copper, and more. Browse woven wire mesh →
Perforated Metal
Round, square, and decorative patterns in solid sheet. Browse perforated metal →
Expanded Metal
Diamond-pattern sheet for facades and rugged screens. Browse expanded metal →
Frequently Asked
Which mesh should I use for a facade?
It depends on the look and transparency you're after. Woven wire mesh gives crisp, uniform lines and a wide range of open areas — great for sheer to semi-open skins. Perforated metal reads as a solid sheet with holes, ideal for graphic patterns and column covers. Expanded metal has a directional diamond texture that's rugged and economical. Send us your target open area and sightline goal and we'll match products to it. Start with woven wire mesh or perforated metal.
Can you cut custom sizes and fabricate panels?
Yes — cut-to-size is what we do. We supply mesh and metal cut to your dimensions and can handle custom fabrication for your panels. Give us the flat size, edge treatment, and any hole or mounting details from your drawings, and we'll quote it. Send your specs here.
What materials and finishes are available?
For architecture we most often supply 304/304L and 316/316L stainless, aluminum, brass, copper, and bronze. Coastal projects usually go 316 stainless. We supply the metal in its mill/mechanical finish — we don't paint or coat in-house. Tell us the material and pattern and we'll confirm what's stocked. Example: 316 stainless woven mesh.
What hole patterns does perforated metal come in?
Perforated metal is punched in a range of hole shapes — round, square, and slotted are the most common — in staggered or straight layouts. Hole size and spacing set the open area and how the sheet reads. Decorative and custom layouts vary by material and gauge, so send your drawing and we'll confirm what we can supply. Browse perforated metal to get started.
Can mesh be used as railing or guard infill?
Mesh panels are commonly used as infill for railings, balustrades, and guarding because they're open, durable, and easy to frame. We supply the infill mesh cut to your panel size; your fabricator or installer handles the framing and mounting to meet the project's requirements. Contact us with your panel sizes for a quote.
Questions? Call Howard Wire at (510) 887-8787 — family-owned in Hayward, California since 1938.